SUU Unites for Haiti

January 27, 2010Category: Community Outreach

Southern Utah University’s students are, quite literally, giving the shirts off their backs in support of Haitian earthquake victims, and you can join them.

Thanks to a collaborative effort from several student-run clubs and organizations, the campus community will host “SUU Unites” this Friday afternoon in the Student Center Rotunda as a donation drive to collect clothing, shoes, food and money that will then be shipped to Haiti next week with the help of LDS Humanitarian Services.

SUU Unites comes on the tails of the disastrous earthquake in Haiti, which left many students looking for ways to help the stricken Haitian community from the very distant Cedar City. In response, SUU’s clubs and organizations have come together in an altruistic spirit to collect donations and provide some relief to the devastated country.

The primary focus of this event, slated for Friday, January 29, from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., will be to collect new and used clothing, cash donations and non-perishable food items that will help disaster victims take the first steps to recovery and eventually rebuilding.

In addition to the donation drive, many talented students from the various clubs and organizations have offered to provide live entertainment that will include dance performances, local musicians and more. All entertainment and festivities will be provided free of charge.

The SUU student-run clubs and organizations involved in putting on this event include: Power91, Black Student Union, Delta Psi Omega, Service & Learning Center, University Journal, SUUSA and SUUSA Freshman Council, and the Newman club. There are also many individual students involved representing the Presidential Ambassadors, Rural Health Scholars, SUU Track and Field, and the music, English, and theater departments. Students and professors alike are giving their time and talents for this great cause.

Alyssa Sanders, Power91 club president, said of SUU Unites, “This cause is bigger than you and I and SUU. The fact that the University can unite for something of this magnitude says a lot about the people here. I’m proud to be involved.”

Because disaster victims are lacking the most basic things, such as clean drinking water, food and shelter, all donations are greatly needed and appreciated.